Research shows that farmers die from suicide at a rate twice as high as the rest of the population, and Illinois officials are taking steps to help reverse that trend.
The Illinois Department of Agriculture, in coordination with the Illinois FFA Foundation and the Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, will expand the state's Farm Family Resource Initiative to all 102 counties.
Illinois Ag Department Director Jerry Costello said the program will bring much-needed mental-health services to rural parts of the state.
"I think we're all aware that farmers have risks that a lot of other occupations don't have," he said. "Some of them are obviously very uncontrolled. And unfortunately, farmers' suicide rates are exponentially higher."
He said the program, which will be funded by a series of state grants, is aimed at breaking down the stigma of accessing mental-health services in agricultural communities.
Costello said a unique feature of the program will be the participation of local branches of the Future Farmers of America, who'll spread the word among their families and neighbors. The program will fund up to 20 grants for $1,000 each year to support FFA chapters implementing local initiatives to encourage access to mental-health resources.
Source: publicnewsservice.org
Photo Credit: gettyimages-ben-goode
Categories: Illinois, General